I'm researching property to buy in the DR and many houses, villas and developments are in gated communities, even up to 30 minutes outside nearest town, village, city. I've never lived in a gated community, so I don't understand why they are so popular in the DR.
Where we live now in a city of just over 100,000, there is crime regularly, however, not much violent crime - mainly property theft, damage, etc. We run our own home security and surveillance systems which has deterred the troublemakers from targeting our immediate neighborhood. We live in a quiet, but fairly busy residential-commercial neighborhood.
Are these gated communities mainly catering to Gringo paranoia, particularly for those who live/work in larger urban areas where crime is frequent & violent?
Or, is it really not safe to own semi-rural/rural land with your own house in a non-gated community?
We plan on living there permanently, and would like to know if we might be making a serious mistake thinking we can own property outside the "safety" of a gated community. If we have to buy and carry guns to protect ourselves because the police are inept/corrupt, then we'd rather not live there.
We cannot live in a condo, apartment or gated community, due to the nature of our business. We definitely need our own land and space.
Where we live now in a city of just over 100,000, there is crime regularly, however, not much violent crime - mainly property theft, damage, etc. We run our own home security and surveillance systems which has deterred the troublemakers from targeting our immediate neighborhood. We live in a quiet, but fairly busy residential-commercial neighborhood.
Are these gated communities mainly catering to Gringo paranoia, particularly for those who live/work in larger urban areas where crime is frequent & violent?
Or, is it really not safe to own semi-rural/rural land with your own house in a non-gated community?
We plan on living there permanently, and would like to know if we might be making a serious mistake thinking we can own property outside the "safety" of a gated community. If we have to buy and carry guns to protect ourselves because the police are inept/corrupt, then we'd rather not live there.
We cannot live in a condo, apartment or gated community, due to the nature of our business. We definitely need our own land and space.